Article supporting device



Aug. 1, 1945.-,

R. C. KIVLEY ETAL ARTICLE ISUPPORTING DEVICm v Filed July 2., 1942 l f l l Hrm/@NEX Patented Aug. 14, 1945 l ffnlrrlcLli` 23812123311, sUPPoRrI'NdDEvIoEf" Ray anklvleyyoak Park, and Albert Pearson, Western Springs, "Ill.,` assignors to Western Elecy tricCompany, Incorporated, New

corporation of-NeW York i. ,l L

York, N. Y., a

Application July 2, lsflafseiialflvo. 449,47() f l claim. (ql

This invention relates to article supporting devices and particularly to devices for supporting hollow articles with their interiors sealed off while submerged in a bath.

In the treating of certain types of hollow articles in an electroplating bath to plate their eltterior surfaces, it is necessary, in order to prevent ruining means within the article, that the cleaning or plating solutions be prevented from entering the interior of the article.

An object of the present invention'is to provide a simple and practical device forsupporting hollow articles With their interiors sealed off while submerged in a treating bath.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, as used for supporting hollow articles while submerged in an electroplating tank for electroplating their exterior surfaces, there is provided a plating rack comprising means communicating with the interiors of the articles which includes an expansible member for applying a higher than atmospheric pressure within the articles, the expansible member also serving as a 1 signal upon deflation in case. a leak occurs.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a rack, partly i in section, embodying the features of the invention shown supported in an electroplating tank, the tank being shown fragmentarily in broken outline, and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view of the lower end of the rack.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, a conventional electroplating tank is indicated at Ill containing an electrolyte II and anodes I2 suspended from bus bars I3. A cathode bus bar is shown at I4 for supporting the plating rack of this invention, which is indicated, in general, at

I1. The rack I1 is in the form of an inverted T-shaped frame, which includes a vertical arm I8, preferably of copper pipe, and copper pipe cross arms I9 extending from its lower end and communicating at their interiors with the interior of the pipe arm I8 (Fig. 2). To the outer ends of the cross arms I9 are secured, in the present embodiment of the, invention, screw threaded pipe couplings or union sections 20 which are used for coupling to and supporting hollow articles, indicated, in general, at 2|, carrying means therein (not shown), upon the rack II. The articles 2| are provided with screw threaded union sections 22 at one end which com .zoete-297)- v municate with the interiors of the Varticles 2| onto which the union sections 20 are threaded 'in securing the articles to the rack. The opposite ends of the particular type of illustrated articles 2| are equipped with plugs 23. The cross arms I9 are formed by soldering or brazing a length of copper pipe to the vertical arm I8 and nipple portions 24 of the union sections 20 are similarly secured to thecross arms by soldering or brazlng.

At its upper end, the vertical pipe arm I8 has attached thereto, as shown at 25, an inflatable bulb or balloon 26 of rubber or other suitable material. Adjacent its upper end, an air inlet valve 21 is connected by a pipe nipple 28 to the interior of the pipe arm I8. A hook 29 on the vertical arm I8 is provided for supporting the rack l1 on the bus bar I4 while in the electroplating tank I0.

In using the rack I1, the articles 2| to be plated with the plugs 23 inserted therein are first attached to the rack by the union sections 20 and thereafter, in the present embodiment of the invention, a suitable source of air pressure (not` shown) is connected to the inlet valve 21 and air under pressure is permitted to iiow into the rack and when the bulb 26 is suitably inflated, as indicated in broken outline, for example, the valve is closed and disconnected from the air pressure source. Thereafter, the rack I'I is supported on the bus bar I4 of the electroplating tank I0 by means of the hook29. The operator, after placing the rack in the tank I0 and before leaving the same, will observe whether the bulb 26 refmains inflated and if it should begin to deflate, it will be a positive indication to him that a leak is occurring and that the rack I1 should be immediately removed from the tank III to preventdamage to the means within the articles 2I which would result from an infiltration of the electrolyte II or other treating solution into lthe interiors of the articles. Thus, with the bulb 26 remaining inated,` a greater than atmospheric pressure is being maintained in the interiors of the articles 2|, which are hermetically sealed. This pressure should be high enough to counterbalance or exceed the hydrostatic pressure of the bath, and, consequently, the electrolyte II cannot enter the interior of the articles to damage or ruin the means therein. i An indicating gauge may be substituted for the bulb 26 to indispecific application of the invention air under pressure greater than the hydrostatic pressure on the outside of the articles is applied to the interior thereof to preventl leakage into the articles of the treating solution, any uid pressure,

either gaseous or liquid, that would not be injurious to the contents of the article may be used.

From the above description,..it will. be evident that a simplex and practical device? ifs'f provided for supporting and hermetically sealing in a treating bath the hollow articles capable of being so sealed and carrying means within their inte-"M riors which would be damaged or ruined bydmmersion in the bath and furtherltherelis pro- ,rfatcrin .Cass

vided a Visual indication t0` the,Y op a leak occurs in the device or articles.AL

Although a specific embodiment of this invention has been described and illustrated with. reference to a particular type of article'tatihg" bath, it should be understood that modifications'.I can bev made and itA is capable of other` applicafor maintaining' a higher than atmospheric pressure-in. the interiors of said articles to excludev the bath. therefrom.

RAY C. KIVLEY. ALBERT PIMLRSONy 

